Association of Metabolic Syndrome with Vitamin D Deficiency: A Cross-Sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern India

Background: In India, metabolic syndrome (MetS) and vitamin D insufficiency are both very common. This study aimed to evaluate the association between metabolic syndrome and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in patients attending a tertiary care hospital in eastern India. Material and Methods: At Raiganj Government Medical College and Hospital, a cross-sectional study was carried out between September 2022 and September 2023. 102 patients who satisfied the IDF criteria for metabolic syndrome (cases) and 102 age- and sex-matched, seemingly healthy persons (controls) made up the 204 subjects, ages 18 to 80. Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA, Roche e411) was used to measure serum 25(OH)D. Less than 20 ng/mL was considered a vitamin D insufficiency. Results: The metabolic syndrome group had a substantially lower mean serum 25(OH)D level (11.99 ± 6.20 ng/mL) than the controls (13.74 ± 6.37 ng/mL) (p = 0.048). Vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was present in 92.2% of MetS patients versus 85.3% of controls (p = 0.038). 50% of MetS sufferers and 36.3% of controls had severe vitamin D insufficiency (<10 ng/mL) (p = 0.042). BMI, waist circumference, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and HDL were all significantly higher in MetS patients than in controls (p < 0.001 for all but FBS, p = 0.043). Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome is strongly associated with lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Patients with metabolic syndrome are far more likely to have severe vitamin D insufficiency. Patients with MetS may benefit from routine screening for vitamin D levels.

Keywords: Metabolic syndrome · Vitamin D deficiency · 25-hydroxyvitamin D · Insulin resistance · Obesity · Eastern India.